Interference by Tannic Acid with the Effectiveness of Activated Charcoal in “Universal Antidote”

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Abstract
Tannic acid is responsible for the reduced effectiveness of universal antidote [2 parts activated charcoal, 1 part tannic acid and 1 part MgO] as compared with activated charcoal alone. Tannic acid apparently binds strongly to charcoal and uses up part of the adsorption capacity that would otherwise be available for binding of a drug or poison. Data on sodium salicylate adsorption from simulated gastric fluid, both with and without the presence of tannic acid, illustrate that tannic acid interferes significantly with the adsorption of the salicylate. MgO offered no interference to salicylate adsorption, presumably because it does not adsorb to charcoal to any significant extent.

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